Guntersville is almost literally surrounded by Lake Guntersville, which at 69,000 acres is Alabama's largest lake. Known nationwide as a great place to catch largemouth bass, the reservoir was formed by Guntersville Dam, which the Tennessee Valley Authority built in the late 1930s on the Tennessee River.
The lake hosts fishing tournaments throughout the year, including stops in the past by some of the top pro tours such as Bassmaster and the Walmart FLW Tour. The lake has also played host to a stop on the Tennessee Collegiate Bass Fishing Trail, and a series of tournaments hosted by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga that attracts some of the best college fishing teams in the Southeast.
Guntersville also has a cultural district and a thriving arts community centered around the Guntersville Museum. It was built as a military armory in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration. The castle-like limestone museum sits on a tree-covered hilltop.
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10,000 YEARS OF HISTORYOver the last 10 years, The Guntersville Museum and Cultural Center has amassed a large art and artifact collection that focuses on Guntersville’s rich history. The museum hosts many special events, exhibits and fundraisers.American Indians lived in the Guntersville area for at least 10,000 years. See arrowheads and other artifacts from the Paleo-Indian era in the museum’s Native American exhibit, the Percy Barnard Collection, which is augmented by other locally and regionally collected artifacts.A display of almost exclusively native mounted birds that once resided at Guntersville’s City Elementary “Rock School” is also on permanent display at the museum.>The free museum is located in the historic rock armory in Guntersville and has exhibits for all ages. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 1-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday (1215 Rayburn Ave.; 256-571-7597; guntersvillemuseum.org.)Source: Guntersville Chamber of Commerce
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EAGLE AWARENESS WEEKENDSGuntersville attracts so many migrating bald eagles during the winter that Lake Guntersville State Park holds Eagle Awareness Weekends.>Covering six weekends from early January through early February, the event has been a tradition at Lake Guntersville for some 30 years.It kicks off at Lake Guntersville State Park Lodge at 1155 Lodge Drive. Guided trips begin around 5:30 a.m. and include an easy-to-follow schedule of activities.>Eagle Awareness Weekends feature guided field trips, knowledgeable guest speakers and talks from the park naturalist. Programs are free.Learn more at alapark.com/Lake-Guntersville-State-Park-Eagle-Awareness-Weekends.Source: Alabama Tourism Department
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*FAST FACTSPopulation: 8,385Landmarks and geographic features: Lake Guntersville; North Alabama Birding Trail; Buck Island in Lake GuntersvilleDate founded: 1836** Famous son: Guntersville’s John Allen Wyeth was a renowned author and surgeon. He founded one of New York City’s largest hospitals and was consulted when England’s Queen Victoria needed an operation.** Unique traditions: At sunset, thousands of bats emerge from a cave near Lake Guntersville Lock and Dam. The cave can be accessed only by boat.** Fun fact: Guntersville was founded by John Gunter (1765–1835), the great-grandfather of American humorist Will Rogers. Gunter came from the Carolinas just 10 years after signing the Declaration of Independence.*Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Guntersville Chamber of Commerce
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ART EN PLEIN AIRArt on the Lake is an annual festival held the third weekend in April.The 54th annual festival featured more than 130 artists as well as food vendors, a bake sale and outdoor games and rides.>It costs $2 to attend for those age 13 and older. Art on the Lake promotes the arts while benefiting a scholarship program for local high school graduates.The annual event is at the Recreational Center at 1500 Sunset Drive.Source: artonthelake-guntersville.com
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DINE IN STYLEFor a fancy dinner, Rock House Eatery offers Southern gourmet dining. Its menu includes house-infused liquors, bone-in ribeye and seared ahi tuna.Rock House gets its name from the rock building that houses the restaurant.Lunch is served Tuesday-Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dinner is Wednesday-Saturday from 5-9 p.m. Dinner prices range from about $13 for a pizza to $26.50 for a 16-ounce ribeye. (1201 Gunter Ave.; 256-505-4699; rockhouseeatery.com)Source: Rock House Eatery